Concern as Nyamira County slashes budget for health sector

By Naftal Makori

Nyamira, Kenya: The budgetary allocation for the health sector in Nyamira County is set to be reduced by 30 per cent in the next financial year, The Standard has established.

The County Assembly has already approved the area’s Medium Fiscal Strategy Paper that will form the basis for preparation of the budget as stipulated under Section 117 of the Public Finance Management Act, 2012.

In the 2013/2014 financial year, the health sector was allocated Sh1.113 billion, but this is set to be reduced to Sh778.14 million. Some of the money is said to have been re-alocated to departments that were underfunded in the last financial year.

Reduced funding for health services is expected to hurt the sector that is already experiencing several challenges.

For instance, Nyamira County Hospital, which is a Level Four health facility, is in dire need of refurbishment.

The facility also lacks water and experiences frequent power outages apart from the theatre section lacking oxygen. In a recent interview, the hospital’s Medical Superintenden Wilfred Basweti revealed that efforts to procure the important commodity through the county government have been slowed down by red tape.

Sources have also revealed that two doctors working at the facility resigned a few weeks ago for what they termed poor working conditions.

Most equipment like stretchers, wheelchairs and beds are not in a working condition, and there is also no sufficient linen.

Lacks equipment

The state of Keroka District Hospital, which is another important hospital in the county, is equally pathetic. The hospital management said the facility cannot handle emergencies as it doesn’t have the necessary equipment. According to Dr Munene Matingai, who is Masaba North Sub-county Medical Officer of Health, the facility does not also have a theatre and an outpatient department.

A Sh26 million project to expand the hospital’s infrastructure stalled last year after the contractor died.

“The hospital was initially a dispensary and it was upgraded into a Level Four hospital only by name,” said Matingai.

He added: “This hospital is critical since it is strategically located along the Kisii-Sotik road where accidents are common. Without X-ray machine, lab and other diagnostic equipment, most cases are referred to Kisii Level Five Hospital.” Lack of water is also a major problem at the facility.

Governor John Nyagarama has reiterated his commitment to improving health services in the county. The county has already acquired five ambulances at a cost of Sh33 million and also purchased drugs valued at Sh44 million.

Nyagarama said the county has tendered for rehabilitation of Nyamira County Hospital and intends to acquire a computerised tomography machine before end of this financial year.

“We also plan to complete a three -storey hospital block at the Keroka hospital, which would house a modern operation theatre and wards,” said Nyagarama.

He said all other stalled health facilities in all the 20 wards would be completed.

As at December 31, 2013, the county’s health services department had spent a paltry Sh150 million despite the huge budget allocation for the sector in the 2013/2014 financial year.

The county treasury blames the slow rate of absorption the funds to lengthy procurement procedures.